Why DaVinci Resolve Can't Write to Your Files

DaVinci Resolve on Mac sometimes cannot save projects or export files because the folder or drive lacks write permissions. This happens most often when you're working from an external drive, a shared folder, or a location where your user account doesn't have full access. Mac's permission system controls which user accounts can read, write, and execute files — and Resolve respects those boundaries.

The error usually appears as "Permission denied" or "Cannot write to location" when you try to save a project or render an export. The fix depends on where your files live and whether you own the drive or folder.

Key Takeaways

  • External drives and SD cards often mount as read-only on Mac and need to be reformatted or remounted to gain write access.
  • Folders in your home directory should already have write permission, but you can verify and repair them through Get Info in Finder.
  • Shared network drives may require you to change permissions through the sharing settings on the computer that hosts the drive.
  • The fastest solution for most users is to move the project to your Documents or Desktop folder, which always has write permission.

Check Permissions on the Folder Itself

Start by finding out whether the folder actually has write permission. Open Finder, navigate to the folder where you're trying to save, right-click it, and select Get Info. Scroll to the bottom of the window to the Sharing & Permissions section.

Look at the row with your username. The Privilege column should show Read & Write. If it shows Read Only or is grayed out, that's your problem. Click the lock icon at the bottom right of the window, enter your Mac password, and change your privilege to Read & Write. Then click the gear icon and select Apply Enclosed to apply the change to all files inside the folder.

If the lock icon is already unlocked but you still cannot change the privilege, the folder may be on a drive that's mounted as read-only — move to the next section.

Remount an External Drive or SD Card

External drives and SD cards sometimes mount in read-only mode on Mac, especially if they were ejected improperly or formatted for Windows. The simplest fix is to eject the drive and remount it. Click the eject icon next to the drive name in Finder's sidebar, wait for it to disappear, then unplug and replug the drive.

If remounting doesn't work, the drive itself may be set to read-only. Check the physical drive for a small switch or lock tab on the side — some USB drives and SD cards have a hardware lock. Slide it to the unlocked position and try again.

If there's no physical lock and remounting still fails, the drive may need to be reformatted. Open Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities), select the drive in the sidebar, click Erase, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS as the format, and confirm. This erases everything on the drive, so back up your files first.

Move Your Project to a Folder You Own

The fastest workaround is to move your DaVinci Resolve project to a folder where you definitely have write permission. Your Documents, Desktop, or Movies folder in your home directory always has write permission for your user account.

In Finder, create a new folder in Documents called "DaVinci Projects" or similar. Move your project file and any linked media into that folder. Then open the project in Resolve from that location. Once you've finished editing and exported your final file, you can move the project back to the original location if needed.

This approach also improves performance if your original location was a slow network drive or an external drive with a poor connection.

Fix Permissions for a Shared Network Drive

If your files live on a shared network drive or a Mac that's hosting files for multiple users, the permissions are controlled on the host computer, not on yours. You'll need to ask the person who manages that drive to change the folder's sharing settings.

On the host Mac, the folder owner should open Finder, right-click the folder, select Get Info, go to Sharing & Permissions, and make sure your user account (or a group you belong to) has Read & Write privilege. If your account isn't listed, they can click the plus icon to add you.

If you're the owner of the shared drive and need to grant access to others, follow the same steps: open Get Info, unlock the permissions, add the other user's account, and set their privilege to Read & Write.

Change Permissions from the Terminal

If the Finder method doesn't work or you prefer the command line, you can use the chmod command in Terminal. Open Terminal (in Applications > Utilities), type the following command, and press Enter:

chmod -R u+w /path/to/folder

Replace /path/to/folder with the actual path to your folder. The easiest way to get the path is to drag the folder from Finder into the Terminal window — it will paste the path automatically. The -R flag applies the change to all files inside the folder, and u+w adds write permission for your user account.

You'll be asked for your Mac password. Type it (it won't show on screen) and press Enter. If the command succeeds, you'll see no error message — just a new command prompt.

Verify DaVinci Resolve Has Permission to Access the Folder

On newer versions of macOS, apps need explicit permission to access folders outside the home directory. If you've fixed the folder's permissions but Resolve still can't write, the app itself may need permission.

Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Files and Folders (or System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders on newer Macs). Look for DaVinci Resolve in the list. If it's there, make sure the checkbox next to the folder you're trying to use is checked. If Resolve isn't listed, you may need to grant it access by clicking the plus icon, navigating to Applications, and selecting DaVinci Resolve.

Close System Preferences, restart DaVinci Resolve, and try saving again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my external drive show as read-only even after I remount it?

The drive may be formatted for Windows (NTFS or FAT32) rather than Mac. Mac can read these formats but cannot write to NTFS without third-party software. Reformat the drive to APFS or Mac OS Extended using Disk Utility, or move your project to your internal drive while working on it.

Can I give write permission to a folder without erasing the drive?

Yes, if the drive is already formatted for Mac. Use the Get Info method or the Terminal chmod command described above. Erasing is only necessary if the drive is mounted as read-only at the system level, which usually means it's formatted for Windows or has a hardware lock.

What if I don't have permission to change the folder's settings?

You likely don't own the folder or drive. Contact the person who does — usually the computer owner or network administrator — and ask them to grant you write permission. You can also move your project to a folder you do own, like your Documents folder.

Will changing permissions affect other people using the same drive?

Only if you use the "Apply Enclosed" option, which changes permissions for all files in the folder. If you only change the folder itself, other people's files inside it keep their original permissions. Ask the drive owner before making changes that affect shared files.